we did it!!! And ran all the way Thank you all so much for all your support I've managed to raise over£2500 for cancer research and the figure is still rising! Thank you also for all the messages sent before and after the race it made all the difference! This very fetching photo was taken just after we had finished what I can only describe as the most amazing day - one I'll remember for the rest of my life. I enjoyed every single moment of the 4hous 48mins it took us to cross the line - even the torrential rain at the start didn't dampen the atmosphere! We had a very surreal moment meeting Elvis at 6miles and then a couple of very large wombles! Ran past the royal caterpillar although we didn't know at the time it was princess B . Jon and the kids managed to see us three times along the route - still dont quite know how he did it as the crowds are endless right along the route - but there they were at 12, 19 & 22 miles. It was much hotter than we had been use to in training - (memories of the hours spent in rain and snow come flooding back!) so we decided to run much slower than planned at the start to make sure we made it comfortably - which we did and both feel fine! - stairs are a bit of a challenge which tom finds very amusing - and I definately could not do an Eddie Izzard and run another42 in 50 days (amazing man he's my hero!) but I sadly think I may have the marathon bug! Lots of love Jen xxx

Dear all

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. As I'm sure many of you know, I lost my wonderful father to this awful disease nearly 7 years ago now. His leisure time, and as a consequence the rest of the family's, revolved around his love of athletics, so running to raise money for cancer research UK has always seemed very apt and a positive act in the face of our dreadful loss- i'm sure he'd laugh at the thought of finally getting me to move up to 'sensible distances'! Thank you so much to all of you who have sponsored me over the last 5 or 6 years to run various cancer research 10k's and the Race for Life. Anna (now 10!) ran the Race for Life with me for the first time last year which was a really special (and quite emotional!) moment for me. But I decided, after a lot of persuasion from my lovely friend Claire (I couldn't do this without you!), that it was time that we attempted the Big One (still think we should of gone for a more exotic location for our first marathon!). We do feel completely bonkers at times trying to fit all the training in, particularly when pounding the road at 6.30 in the morning or ankle deep in snow and I would love to turn up to the school car park in my running kit a little less often - not a good look post run - or even pre-run thinking about it (don't even think about commenting Ged, Albert and Woz!). So many of our friends and relatives are feeling the devastating effects of this disease yet huge steps are being made in understanding and treatment each year so please, please give what you can, any donation will help to make a difference.

many thanks lots of love Jen x

p.s. donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It's also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cancer Research UK gets your money faster and, if you're a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.